Capsule holder for dental capsules and the like

ABSTRACT

A capsule holder is disclosed which is particularly adaptable for holding capsules utilized in dentistry where capsules are subject to rapid movement, such as rotational or reciprocating movement, required to triturate alloys or produce amalgamations. Two housings, one having a cavity adaptable for engaging one end of a capsule and also adaptable for rotating upward so that a capsule may be manually inserted into the cavity are attached to a base. The other housing which slidingly engages the base is movable so that the capsule is held between the housings. A latch is utilized to secure the housings against the capsule during the rapid movement or mixing operation.

1. Unite States atet [72] lnventor Robert C. McShirley 6535 San Fernando Road, Glendale, Calif. 91201 [211 App]. No. 19,351 [22] Filed Mar. 13, 1970 [45] Patented Aug. 31, 1971 [54] CAPSULE HOLDER FOR DENTAL CAPSULES AND THE LIKE 10 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.Cl 241/175, 241/284 [51] Int. Cl ..B02c 17/08, B02c 17/18, B02c 17/24 [50] Field of Search 24l/l70,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,490,214 4/1924 Johnson 241/170 X 2,203,430 6/1940 Goldberg 241/176 X 3,170,648 2/1965 McShirley 241/284 Primary E.raminerDonald G. Kelly Attorney-Spensley, Horn & Lubitz ing which slidingly engages the base is movable so that the capsule is held between the housings. A latch is utilized to secure the housings against the capsule during the rapid movementor mixing operation.

DENTAL CAPSULES AND THE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The invention relates to the field of holders, particularly devices for holding capsules when the device and capsule are subjected to rapid movement such as that required to mix materials in the capsule.

2. Prior Art The use of capsules has become quite popular in the field of dentistry. Typically, an amalgamation, for example, of a silver alloy and mercury, is placed within the capsule and the capsule is subjected to rapid movement in order to completely mix the alloy and mercury. These capsules have also been utilized with other filling materials commonly known in the dental art as synthetics. Also, the capsules may be utilized to pulverize a tablet of alloy or other material by placing the material in the capsule with a pestle and subjecting the capsule to movement such as reciprocating movement.

One of the most common methods used today to mix the constituents within the capsule is to subject the capsule to very rapid reciprocating motion. Typically, the capsule is placed between the ends of a pair of elongated arms. The arms are somewhat flexible and apply a tension to the capsule thus holding the capsule between the arms. Both arms are then moved in a reciprocating motion, thus subjecting the capsule to such movement and mixing the constituents with the capsule.

There are several problems with utilizing this type of device. First, the reciprocating motion of the capsule is not the best movement for mixing the constituents within the capsule. Secondly, the capsule is not well secured between the arms and is able to quite easily be thrown from the device. This is particularly a problemwhere the weight of the capsule used is more than the weight for which the device was designed. The newer devices drive the capsule at approximately 4,500 c.p.m. as compared with 3,000 c.p.m. with older devices. This increase in speed accentuates this problem. Thus, one limitation on the device having a pair of arms is that it is sensitive to the weight of the capsule and is generally optimized for a narrow range of capsule weights. Thirdly, the arms are typically quite stiff and it is therefore difficult to manually place a capsule between the arms.

SUMMARY OFTHE INVENTION A capsule holder, particularly adaptable for holding capsules utilized in dentistry, especially those used for producing amalgamations and other filling materials is described. The holder is mounted on a plate, one surface of which is coupled to a shaft. A first housing defining a cylindrical cavity adaptable for receiving one end of a capsule is rotatably coupled to the upper surface of the plate such that the axes of the cavity may be rotated from a position parallel to the plate to a position where a capsule may be readily inserted into the cavity. A second housing having a surface adaptable for engaging the other end of a capsule is slidingly mounted to the plate such that the surface may be brought in contact with a capsule en-- gaging the cylindrical cavity of the first housing. Thus, a capsule disposed between the first and second housings may be readily held between these housings. A latching means comprising a U-shaped bar or wire is coupled at its ends to the second housing and cooperatively engages the first housing such that the housings are securely held against a capsule disposed between them. A capsule engaging the holder may be subjected to rotational or reciprocating motion by coupling the capsule holder through its shaft to an appropriate driving means.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a capsule holder particularly adaptable for holding capsules utilized in dentistry.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a capsule holder which is adaptable for holding capsules of different lengths.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a capsule holder into which capsules may be readily, manually inserted.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a capsule holder which will safely hold capsules of different weights.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of the capsule holder when attached to an amalgam-producing machine.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the capsule and machine of FIG. 1 taken through section line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a capsule.

FIG. 4 illustrates the capsule holder in its loading position.

FIG. 5 illustrates the capsule holder in its locked or secured position.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the capsule holder and a capsule which illustrates the various components which comprise the capsule holder.

FIG. 7 is a partial end view of the capsule holder illustrating the engagement of the second housing'or cap with the base of the holder taken through section line 77 of FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION In FIGS. land 2, the capsule holder 8 is illustrated coupled to an amalgam-producing machine 20. This machine is fully described in my previous patent, U.S. Pat. No. 3,l70,648. In themachine 20, the surface 55 is rotated in the direction indicated by arrow 31. Materials that are to be mixed may be placed within cup 25 which is covered with lid 24. The cup 25 is'subjected to rotation about axis 49 in the direction indicated by arrow 30, simultaneously with the rotation in the direction indicated by arrow 31. In FIG. 2, the mechanism which produces this opposite rotation about these two different axes is illustrated. The surface 55 is rigidly coupled to shaft 61 and driven in rotational movement by this shaft. A fixed sun gear 62 which does not rotate is disposed about shaft 61. A pair of gears 63 which are coupled to surface 55 cooperatively engage gear 62 and are caused to rotate about gear 62 when surface 55 is driven by shaft 61. Another pair of gears 64, one of which is coupled to shaft 49 and cup 25 are also rotatably coupled to surface 55. It is readily apparent that as gear 61 drives surface 55, the cup 25 will rotate about an axis disposed through shaft 61 in one direction and simultaneously rotate in the opposite direction about an axis disposed through shaft 49. As explained in my previous patent, this dual rotation produces a superior mixing of the constituents within the cup 25 unknown prior to the invention of the amalgam-producing machine 20.

The capsule holder 8, while adaptable for being used in other applications, is particularly adaptable for being utilized in conjunction with an amalgam-producing machine such as machine 20. In FIGS. I and 2, the holder 8 is illustrated on its base I4 which is rigidly coupled to shaft 12. Thus, a capsule 10 engaging the holder is subjected to rotation about shaft 61 in one direction and simultaneous with rotation about shaft I2 in the opposite direction. This combination of rotations is particularly effective for mixing the constituents contained within a capsule.

In FIG. 3, a typical capsule l0 utilized in dentistry is illustrated. These capsules which come in varying sizes and lengths are utilized for mixing a plurality of different constituents. Some capsules are preloaded with a proper proportion of an alloy and mercury before they are shipped to a dentist. In some instances, the mercury is contained in a separate compartment within the capsule and is released from this compartment by twisting the capsule, allowing the alloy to mingle with the mercury. The capsule is then subjected to rapid movement such as reciprocating motion in order to thoroughly mix the mercury and alloy to produce an amalgam. The capsule of FIG. 3 is illustrated, containing a pestle 44 and a tablet 56. This particular combination is utilized to pulverize the tablet 56 when the capsule is subjected to rapid movement. Other types of capsules, including preloaded capsules which contain synthetic filling materials, may be used with the disclosed capsule holder.

The various components of the capsule holder are most clearly illustrated in FIG. 6. The base 14 of the capsule holder is a rectangularly shaped plate rigidly coupled to shaft 12. A rectangularly shaped groove 52 is cut into one end of the base 14 and provides a guide slot in which the flange 46 of housing 40 moves (FIG. 7). Four apertures 19 are disposed through the base 14 at the end of the base opposite groove 52 and are adaptable for receiving stubs 18 of sideplates l6 and I7.

Sideplates l6 and 17 are triangularly shaped members each having a curved edge 15, which are mounted in spaced-apart positions perpendicular to base 14. Another edge of each of the sideplates l6 and 17 contains studs 18 which are adaptable for engaging the apertures 19 of base 14 and are utilized to rigidly mount the sideplates to the base 14. An aperture 23 is disposed through each of the sideplates 16 and 17 near the angle of the plates opposite the edge containing the studs 18.

The housing 26 is a generally cylindrically shaped member defining an interior cylindrically shaped cavity 27 (FIG. 4) adaptable for receiving one end of a capsule. A pair of cars 28 are rigidly coupled to one end of the housing and each car 28 has a cylindrical aperture 29 disposed through it. The apertures 29 are aligned so that they may receive pin 22, a generally cylindrically shaped member. When the capsule holder is assembled, the pin 22 is disposed through the apertures 23 of the sideplates 16 and 17 and through the apertures 29 of theears 28. The pin 22 is adaptable for nonrotatably engaging apertures 23 and also adaptable for allowing the rotation of housing 26 about pin 22. The housing 26 may be pivoted from the position illustrated in FIG. where its axis 58 is parallel to the base I4 to a position illustrated in FIG. 4 where its axis 58 forms an acute angle with the base 14. It is readily apparent that when the housing 26 is in the position illustrated in FIG. 4, a capsule such as capsule may be readily, manually placed within the cavity 27.

The second housing 40 containing a circular cap 42 defining a concave cavity 43 disposed between the U-shaped ends 54. The U-shaped ends 54 are disposed on opposite ends of the curved surface 47; the surface 47 being adaptable for engaging the side of a capsule. A flange 46 (FIG. 7) is disposed along the lower surface of housing 40 opposite the curved surface 47. The ends of the flange 46 define a pair of channels 45 (FIG. 7) which are adaptable for slidingly engaging the groove 52 of base 14. Thus, when the housing 40 is engaging groove 52, the housing may be moved towards or away from the housing 26. The axis 41 of the cavity 43 is a line with the axis 58 of the housing 26 when the axis 58 is parallel to the base 14. Apertures 39 are disposed through each of the U-shaped ends 54, each aperture being adaptable for receiving a pin 3.

As illustrated in FIGS. 4, 5, and 6, a latch 50 which is coupled to housing 40 fits over the sideplates I6 and 17 and secures a capsule I0 engaging housing 26, compressively against housing 40. Referring to FIG. 6, the latch 50 comprises a generally U-shaped bar or rigid wire which define eyes 51 at its ends. A semicircular are 60 is also defined by the latch 50 and is provided to allow the latch 50 to be easily lifted, manually. Each eye 51 is disposed within the U-shaped ends 54 when the holder is assembled and encircles a pin 38 which snugly fits within the apertures 39. A pair of springs 35, each having a hook 36 on one end, and an eye 3 disposed near its opposite end, are disposed in each of the U-shaped ends 54 with a pin 38 disposed through each eye 31. Referring to FIG. 4, the hook 36 which is perpendicular to the length of spring 35, hooks latch 50. The opposite end of each of the springs 35 engages the base 14. The spring 35 is placed within the ends 54 under tension such that the spring tends to urge the latch 50 in the direction indicated by arrow 53.

The housing 26 and 40, the sideplates l6 and 17, the base 14, pin 22, pins 38, springs 35, and latch 50 may be ordinary metal parts manufactured utilizing commonly known techniques.

A circular resilient pad 32 is disposed within the end of cavity 27 (FIG. 4) of housing 26; a circular resilient pad 3 having a concave surface adaptable for engaging the concave cavity 43 is likewise disposed within cavity 43. Pad 33 has a generally flat surface adaptable for engaging one end of a capsule and contains a groove 34 on that surface. As is illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the groove 34 (FIG. 6) of pad 33 provides-a slot in which one end of capsule 10 may move when the housing 26 is rotated from the position illustrated in FIG. 5 to the position illustrated in FIG. 4. Pads 32 and 33 may be made on any suitable resilient material such as polyurethane. The pads 32 and 33 may be glued into the housings 26 and 40, respectively.

Referring to FIG. 4, the housing 26 is held in its loading position by the latch 50. The sections 65 of the latch 50 when engaging the flat surfaces 59 of the ears 28, tend to hold the housing 26 in the position illustrated in FIG. 4. This occurs since the latch 50 is urged in the direction indicated by arrow 53 by springs 35 which prevents the surfaces 59 from rotating from under sections 65 of the latch 50.

In order to utilize the capsule holder, a capsule such as capsule 10 is placed within the cavity 27 of housing 26. It is apparent that this may be readily done, manually, when the housing 26 is in the position illustrated in FIG. 4. In order to lock the capsule within the holder, the housing 26 is rotated such that its axis 58 becomes parallel to base 14 as is illustrated in FIG. 5. The housing 40 may be slid within the guide slot 52 (FIG. 7) to allow the capsule to assume the position illustrated in FIG. 5. Next, the housing 40 is moved into contact with the capsule 10 so that the capsule 10 is disposed between housings 26 and 40 and is hence held by the housing. The latch 60 is then lowered such that the sections 65 of the latch engage the curved surfaces 15 ofthe sideplates l6 and I7. The latch is illustrated in FIG. 5 in position 50' as it is being lowered to its lock position. It is readily apparent that when the latch 50 is in the position illustrated in FIG. 5, the housings are secured against the capsule l0 and the capsule will remain secured within the holder when the holder is subjected to movement.

It is readily apparent that while in the presently disclosed embodiment only the housing 40 is adaptable for movement on base 14, it is within the scope of the present invention to have either or both of the housings 26 and 40 slidingly engaging the base 14. Also, numerous other latching means which need not necessarily be coupled to housing 40 may be utilized to latch the housings against a capsule 10 and prevent their movement when the capsule holder is subjected to movement.

While the capsule holder has been discussed primarily in conjunction with a rotating-type device, it is readily apparent that shaft 12 (FIG. 6) could be coupled to a reciprocating driving mechanism such as the device discussed in the prior art section of this application. The capsule holder is effective in securing a capsule when subjected to reciprocating motion as well as rotational movement.

Also, it is readily apparent that the presently disclosed holder may be utilized with a plurality of capsules, particularly since the housing 40 may be slid into contact with capsules of different lengths.

Thus, a capsule holder has been disclosed which is particularly adaptable for being used with an amalgam-producing machine wherein the capsule holder is subjected to rotation in one direction about an axis spaced apart from a shaft coupled to the holder while simultaneously being rotated in an opposite direction about the shaft coupled to the holder. It is readily apparent that the capsule holder is also adaptable for use with other types of mixing devices.

Iclaim:

1. A capsule holder comprising:

a base;

a first housing defining a cavity for removably receiving one end of said capsule pivotally mounted to said base;

a second housing slidingly engaging said base for moving along said base toward said other housing such that said second housing may engage the other end of said capsule; and

latching means for compressively holding said housings against a closed capsule disposed between said housings.

2. The capsule holder defined in claim 1 wherein said cavity of said first housing defines a cylindrical cavity and said pivotal mounting is such that said cylindrical cavity may be pivotal from a position approximately parallel to said base to a position where the axis of said cavity forms at least an acute angle with said base to facilitate the manual placement of a capsule in said cavity.

3. The capsule holder defined in claim 2 wherein said base comprises a plate.

4. The capsule holder defined in claim 3 wherein said cylindrical cavity contains a resilient pad for engaging one end of a capsule.

5. The capsule holder defined in claim 4 wherein said second housing contains a resilient pad, adaptable for engaging the other end ofa capsule.

6. In a machine for producing dental amalgam and the like having a first surface adaptable for rotation about a first axis and a second surface nonaxially mounted on said first surface for rotating about a second axis, said second axis being parallel to said first axis and where said second surface is rotated in a direction opposite to said first surface; a capsule holder mounted to said second surface comprising:

a first and second housing, for cooperatively engaging a capsule mounted on said second surface, at least one of said housings slidingly engaging said surface for moving along said surface toward said other housing such that a capsule disposed between said housings may be brought in contact with and held between said housings; and

latching means for securing said housings against a capsule disposed between said housings.

7. A capsule holder comprising:

a base;

a pair of sideplates vertically mounted to the upper surface of said base and spaced apart from one another;

first housing defining a cylindrically shaped cavity for removably receiving one end of a capsule and pivotally disposed between said spaced-apart sideplates, such that said housing pivots from a position where said cylindrically shaped cavity is parallel to said base to a position where the axis of said cylindrically shaped cavity forms at least an acute angle with the surface of said base;

a second housing having a surface for receiving the other end of the capsule and slidingly mounted to said base for moving toward said first housing such that a capsule disposed between said housings and engaging said cavity and said surface is'held between said housings; and

latching means for compressively holding said housings against a closed capsule disposed between said housings.

8. The capsule holder defined in claim 7 wherein said latching means comprises a generally U-shaped bar coupled at its ends to said second housing for cooperatively engaging and securing said first housing to said second housing.

9. The capsule holder defined in claim 8 wherein a bar is disposed between said sideplates and is coupled to a pair of ears on said first housing, said pivoting of said first housing being about said bar.

10. The capsule holder defined in claim 9 wherein said ears on said first housing engage said U-shaped bar comprising said latching means such that said cylindrically shaped cavity is held at an acute anglev to said base to facilitate the manual placement of a capsule in said cavity of said first housing. 

1. A capsule holder comprising: a base; a first housing defining a cavity for removably receiving one end of said capsule pivotally mounted to said base; a second housing slidingly engaging said base for moving along said base toward said other housing such that said second housing may engage the other end of said capsule; and latching means for compressively holding said housings against a closed capsule disposed between said housings.
 2. The capsule holder defined in claim 1 wherein said cavity of said first housing defines a cylindrical cavity and said pivotal mounting is such that said cylindrical cavity may be pivotal from a position approximately parallel to said base to a position where the axis of said cavity forms at least an acute angle with said base to facilitate the manual placement of a capsule in said cavity.
 3. The capsule holder defined in claim 2 wherein said base comprises a plate.
 4. The capsule holder defined in claim 3 wherein said cylindrical cavity contains a resilient pad for engaging one end of a capsule.
 5. The capsule holder defined in claim 4 wherein said second housing contains a resilient pad, adaptable for engaging the other end of a capsule.
 6. In a machine for producing dental amalgam and the like having a first surface adaptable for rotation about a first axis and a second surface nonaxially mounted on said first surface for rotating about a second axis, said second axis being parallel to said first axis and where said second surface is rotated in a direction opposite to said first surface; a capsule holder mounted to said second surface comprising: a first and second housing, for cooperatively engaging a capsule mounted on said second surface, at least one of said housings slidingly engaging said surface for moving along said surface toward said other housing such that a capsule disposed between said housings may be brought in contact with and held between said housings; and latching means for securing said housings against a capsule disposed between said housings.
 7. A capsule holder comprising: a base; a pair of sideplates vertically mounted to the upper surface of said base and spaced apart from one another; a first housing defining a cylindrically shaped cavity for removably receiving one end of a capsule and pivotally disposed between said spaced-apart sideplates, such that said housing pivots from a position where said cylindrically shaped cavity is parallel to said base to a position where tHe axis of said cylindrically shaped cavity forms at least an acute angle with the surface of said base; a second housing having a surface for receiving the other end of the capsule and slidingly mounted to said base for moving toward said first housing such that a capsule disposed between said housings and engaging said cavity and said surface is held between said housings; and latching means for compressively holding said housings against a closed capsule disposed between said housings.
 8. The capsule holder defined in claim 7 wherein said latching means comprises a generally U-shaped bar coupled at its ends to said second housing for cooperatively engaging and securing said first housing to said second housing.
 9. The capsule holder defined in claim 8 wherein a bar is disposed between said sideplates and is coupled to a pair of ears on said first housing, said pivoting of said first housing being about said bar.
 10. The capsule holder defined in claim 9 wherein said ears on said first housing engage said U-shaped bar comprising said latching means such that said cylindrically shaped cavity is held at an acute angle to said base to facilitate the manual placement of a capsule in said cavity of said first housing. 